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YOUNG FILMMAKERS FILL THE EAST ROOM OF THE WHITE HOUSE

The first White House Student Film Festival was held in the East Room on February 28 with the assistance of the American Film Institute. The program featured 16 selected short films about the connection between technology and education chosen from among 2,500 submissions from around the country. Film categories included Young Visionaries, Future Innovators, World of Tomorrow and Building Bridges. In addition to President Barack Obama, AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale offered words of encouragement at the event. Other guest speakers included Bill Nye, actor Kal Penn (HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE) and scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson (COSMOS: A SPACE-TIME ODYSSEY). First Lady Michele Obama and comedian Conan O’Brien made video appearances. And Shelly Ortiz, a high school student filmmaker from Phoenix, introduced the President.